chris barrier/out of context
Plain Englishfor Lawyers
l
of All People Plain English for Lawyers first appeared in 1978 in Berkeley's law review.' It has been expanded (but not much) by editor Richard C. Wydick. and is available from Carolina Academic Press. 2 It is not as much fun as Zinsser (quoted by Wydick) or even Strunk & White. But, if you're going to read and use one book on legal writing. this is it.
An age-old problem ... Wydick recognizes the problem: We lawyers cannot write plain English. We use eight words to say what could be said in two. We use old, arcane phrases to express commonplace ideas. Seeking to be precise, we become redundant. Seeking to be cautious, we become verbose.
Our sentences twist on, phrase within clause within clause. glazing the eyes and numbing the minds of readers.' He buttresses his argument with quotes from Thomas Jefferson, Aristotle and Bob Lellar, among others .•
Six principles to guide us ... He sets forth (in plain English worthy of Will Strunk) principles to guide our minds and pens: I. Omit surplus words. 2. Use familiar. concrete words. 3. Use short sentences. 4. Use base verbs and the active voice.
5. Arrange your words with care.
6. Avoid language quirks.' Wydick presents these principles without hammering on rules of grammar and usage.
A few verbal push-ups ... But, he does put you to work. Perhaps. the most valuable feature of this little book is its use of exercises. Wydick vividly illustrates each writing problem, gives his reader a shot at resolving it. and then gives his own suggestions. The exercises are not burdensome, but working them will vastly increase the book's value to you. While direct and to the point, Wydick is not unkind to us law-
lanuary 1985/Arkansas Lawyer/IS